Category: Nutrition

Omega-3s Support Eye Health

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) already supports the assertion that omega-3 in the form of ALA aids cognitive and eye function and may soon be extending this designation to DHA.  Products will be able to make this claim on their packaging.
Source: nutraingredients

DHA has been documented to help those who suffer from retinitis pigmentosa.

Omega-3 Delivery

Spanish researchers have developed a new way to deliver omega-3 nutrients in more stable capsule form. The new process uses “electrosprayed zein encapsulation.”  It promises to keep omega-3 fatty acid DHA from oxidizing too quickly, a process that leads to foul odors, tastes, and a break down of the beneficial properties.  The traditional animal derived gelatin capsules could be replaced with zein, a type of protein found in maize.

Source: Journal of Food Science

Visit our website to learn about how essential fatty acids are vital to vision health.

Lutein and Zeaxanthin for Eye Health

Lutein and Zeaxanthin are powerful antioxidants used both in the retina and lens of the eyes, and help reduce the chances of onset of eye conditions such as macular degeneration and cataracts.

The carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin are both potent  antioxidants that are used in the cells of the lens and retina of the eye.  They are wonderful free radical fighters with the capacity to lower oxidation in the eye – which causes stress in the cells of the eye.  They also are used both in the retina and lens of the eyes. They help neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress. In addition they are powerful filters that block damaging blue light from sunshine.

Zeaxanthin is found mostly in the macula of the eye, at the center of the retina, where it supports central vision, and lutein is mostly found at other locations in the retina where it supports peripheral vision.

Supplementation with only  6 mg  lutein each day lowers the risk of developing AMD by 57 percent.

The Woman’s Health Study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology in 2007 demonstrated that female subjects who received the highest levels of lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin E  in their diets were 18 percent less likely to get cataracts.

Learn more about lutein and zeaxanthin.

Walnuts slow prostate cancer growth

A new study suggests that mice with prostate tumors should say “nuts to cancer.” Paul Davis of the University of California, Davis, hopes follow-up data by his team and others will one day justify men saying the same.

A 2010 study indicates that mice who have cancer of the prostate benefit from increased nuts in their diet.  Researchers are doing follow-up studies to see whether the benefit may extend to men.

Most nuts in reasonable amounts can benefit the heart. But among walnuts’ special attributes were their ability to fight inflammation, an underlying cause of much heart disease, and to allow vessels to dilate as needed.

A major factor for many cancers is the presence of Inflammation in the body.  The researchers have determined that walnuts can effect endothelin production.  Endothelin is a protein that is related to blood pressure control and also to helping  regulate prostate growth.

In walnuts, omega-3 fatty acids, minerals and other trace elements, possibly even the protein content, appear to be slowing prostate tumor growth.

Researchers: Paul Davis and colleagues, U. California at Davis, CA.

Procyanidins Benefit Microcirculation in Early Diabetic Retinopathy

A new study now reports that pine bark extract (which contains procyanidins) may extend vision-saving benefits to diabetics with early stage retinopathy by improving retinal blood flow and inducing regression of edema.

A 2010 study suggests that pine bark extract (containing procyanidins) may be helpful to diabetics who have early diabetic retinopathy through improved retinal blood flow and lowering swelling edema.

About 40-50% of Americans who have been diagnosed with diabetes already have some stage of diabetic retinopathy, according to NIH.

Learn more about management of diabetic retinopathy.

Reference: Steigerwalt R, et al. Pycnogenol® improves microcirculation, retinal edema, and visual acuity in early diabetic retinopathy. J Ocular Pharmacol Therap 25:537-40, 2009.

Australian scientists discover Omega-3 diet can help prevent Alzheimers

Australian scientists at Melbourne’s Deakin University confirm a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can protect the brain from developing Alzheimers disease.

Reseachers have substantiated earlier research that there appeared to be a lower risk of neurodegenerative conditions in those people who consume plenty of Omega-3 fatty acids.  Their research also determined that a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can help individuals from developing the devastating brain condition, Alzheimers disease.

Essential fatty acids help regulate the natural levels of zinc in the brain.  In some people zinc levels become elevated which can prove toxic  according to Deakin University project leader and cellular biologist Professor Leigh Ackland.

Omega-3 fatty acids contain DHA, EPA & alpha linoleic acid.  The researchers found that when the DHA level in brain nerve cells drops, zinc levels rise.

Editor’s Note: DHA is found most commonly in cold water fatty fish while a vegetarian source can be derived from seaweed.

Researchers: Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia

Two foods to completely avoid

Avoid trans fats, found largely in commercially prepared baked and fried foods, These fats not only raise “bad” LDL cholesterol, but also lower levels of heart-healthy HDL cholesterol. High trans-fat intake has been linked to coronary heart disease, in which fatty plaques build up in the heart arteries, sometimes leading to a heart attack.

The food industry has been widely replacing trans fats with interesterified fat, another unnatural fat to completely avoid.

The interesterification process hardens fat, similar to the hydrogenation process, but without producing oils that contain trans fats. The end product, like trans fat, is less likely to go rancid and is stable enough to use to fry foods.

Avoid trans fats, found largely in commercially prepared baked and fried foods, These fats not only raise “bad” LDL cholesterol, but also lower levels of heart-healthy HDL cholesterol.  High trans-fat intake has been linked to coronary heart disease, in which fatty plaques build up in the heart arteries, sometimes leading to a heart attack.

The food industry has been widely replacing trans fats with interesterified fat, another unnatural fat to completely avoid.

The interesterification process hardens fat, similar to the hydrogenation process, but without producing oils that contain trans fats. The end product, like trans fat, is less likely to go rancid and is stable enough to use to fry foods.

However, like hydrogenation which generates unnatural trans fats, interesterification also produces molecules that do not exist in nature.

Studies show that interesterified fat raises your blood glucose and depresses insulin production. These conditions are common precursors to diabetes, and can present an even more immediate danger if you already have the disease (Nutrition & Metabolism 2007, 4:3doi:10.1186/1743-7075-4-3)

Editor’s Note: Stay with healthy fats such as olive oil, and even saturated fats in moderation such as butter or coconut oil.

To round out your healthy fat intake, be sure to eat raw fats, such as those from avocados, raw dairy products, and olive oil, and also take a high-quality source of animal-based omega-3 fat, or if vegetarian, supplement with Krill oil.

EPA and DHA needed for optimal nervous system function

A report appearing in the December 2009 issue of the American
Psychological Association journal Behavioral Neuroscience revealed
that diets that fail to provide enough of the omega-3 fatty acids
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may
negatively affect the nervous system.

A report appearing in the December 2009 issue of the American
Psychological Association journal Behavioral Neuroscience revealed
that diets that fail to provide enough of the omega-3 fatty acids
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may
negatively affect the nervous system. The finding could impact
the understanding of information-processing deficits that occur
in schizophrenia, bipolar disease, obsessive-compulsive disorder,
attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Huntington’s
disease and other nervous system disorders.

Editor’s Note: Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the super nutrients that help protect the heart, eyes, brain and are used by every cell in the body. For more information on eye health and omega-3 fatty acids, see the “Research” section at Natural Eye Care Research

Soy peptide lunasin has anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory properties

Two new University of Illinois studies report that lunasin, a soy
peptide often discarded in the waste streams of soy-processing
plants, may have important health benefits that include fighting
leukemia and blocking the inflammation that accompanies such
chronic health conditions as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, heart
disease, and stroke.

Two new University of Illinois studies report that lunasin, a soy
peptide often discarded in the waste streams of soy-processing
plants, may have important health benefits that include fighting
leukemia and blocking the inflammation that accompanies such
chronic health conditions as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, heart
disease, and stroke (see also University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign).

In another study, the first to report lunasin’s potential
anti-inflammatory activity, they showed that lunasin blocked or
reduced the activation of an important marker called NF-kappa-B,
a link in the chain of biochemical events that cause inflammation.

Lunasin’s bioavailability in the human body was confirmed by doing a
third study in which men consumed 50 grams of soy protein–one soy
milk shake and a serving of soy chili daily–for five days.

Editor’s Note1: Note that soy flour does contain high concentrations of the peptide.
Editor’s Note2: Chronic systemic inflammation can cause or contribute to many eye conditions such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, macula edema, optic neuritis, uveitis and iritis for example. Chronic inflammation is now considered a major contributor to heart disease as well.

For more information on ways to help manage inflammation nutritionally, Click Here

Vitamin D Helps Boost Immunity to Colds

A new study reinforces the role that Vitamin D plays in preventing colds and other respiratory tract infections.

Researchers using data from 18,883 participants in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that Vitamin D could boost immunity to colds, even after adjusting for demographic and clinical factors such as season, body mass index, and smoking history.  The study, published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine reinforces the importance of Vitamin D in avoiding upper respiratory tract infections.

Vitamin D is produced by the body when exposed to direct sunlight.   It is crucial for people with limited sun exposure (such as during winter months) to include Vitamin D in their diet.  Good sources of Vitamin D include fatty fish, fish liver oils, and eggs.

SOURCE;  Association Between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level and Upper Respiratory Tract Infection in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Ginde, et al, Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(4):384-390.

Elevated Cysteine Levels May Be Important Indicator for Future Heart Disease

In a study of more than 1,200 people undergoing cardiac imaging at Emory because of suspected heart disease, people with high levels of cysteine in the blood were twice as likely to have a heart attack or die over the next few years.

In a study of more than 1,200 people undergoing cardiac imaging at Emory because of suspected heart disease, people with high levels of cysteine in the blood were twice as likely to have a heart attack or die over the next few years.

Cysteine could be a valuable marker of cardiovascular risk, but it also has a direct harmful effect on cells, so reducing it may be a valuable treatment strategy, according to researchers.

Cysteine is itself a short-lived precursor to glutathione, one of the main antioxidants found inside cells. We need to have a continuous supply of cysteine, but it is too reactive for us to have very much at any one time.

Smoking and alcohol consumption are also linked with higher levels of oxidized cysteine.

Editor’s Notes: Current research is showing other indicators to be much more accurate in predicting future heart disease than cholesterol levels including C-Reactive Protein levels, Homocysteine levels and possibly now oxidized cysteine levels.

See more information on nutrition and heart disease.